With a $31M California tax credit, the ‘Michael’ 2 biopic sequel pushes ahead
Michael 2 just scored a California tax credit, pushing Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson sequel closer to production—the exact figure will make you look twice.
The sequel to Michael just locked in a major boost: a $30.8 million California production tax credit, part of the state’s newest round that tapped 35 films in all, according to Variety. The award is the second-largest in the batch, behind an untitled Pixar feature that secured $40.1 million.
Lionsgate has been lining up the sequel’s schedule for a while. Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson previously pointed to a filming start in late 2026 or early 2027 , with a release window targeted for late 2027 or the first half of 2028.
There’s also a surprising head start: Fogelson has said roughly 25%–30% of the sequel was effectively captured during the first movie ’s shoot, including several major musical sequences. Some footage trimmed from the original could be repurposed for the follow-up.
About a quarter to a third of the sequel is already in the can.
What the sequel still has to cover
Antoine Fuqua’s first film ended around the 1987 Bad tour, with Michael Jackson already a global superstar. That leaves decades of his life the movie didn’t touch, which sets up a more complicated second chapter even as the audience appetite is clearly there.
Why the studio’s confident
The original was a commercial juggernaut and a star-making showcase for Jaafar Jackson, even as critics and moviegoers didn’t see eye to eye.
- $97 million domestic opening weekend
- $217 million worldwide opening weekend — the biggest ever for a musical biopic
- $1 billion global box office to date
- Rotten Tomatoes: 38% critics vs. 97% audience score
California expects the projects in this latest incentive round — including the Michael sequel — to generate more than $1 billion in direct in-state spending, per Variety.